Senators want blackout probed

Senators are calling for an "extensive" inquiry into the massive blackout that affected businesses and households throughout Panay and Guimaras, while Ilocos Norte First District Rep.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Sandro Marcos has filed a House resolution seeking to review the franchise of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) amid reports of inaction and lack of real-time information during the incident.

Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Tolentino filed yesterday Senate Resolutions 890 and 894, respectively, to conduct “deeper and more extensive” investigation on the Panay blackout to address all factors surrounding the incident last Jan. 2.

“Considering that past investigations and probes have not yielded palpable results, an even more comprehensive, thorough and extensive examination needs to be conducted, including a review of the concession agreement between the National Transmission Corporation and the NGCP, as well as NGCP’s 25-year legislative franchise itself,” Hontiveros’ resolution stated.

“We must urgently review and strengthen the effectiveness of all protocols, such as Department of Energy’s mechanisms during incidents like simultaneous and unplanned power plant shutdowns. NGCP claims that its decision to take no action like manual load dropping during the blackout was according to ‘standard protocols.’ Is it really standard procedure to remain silent when there is a crisis such as a blackout?” she said.

Like Hontiveros, Tolentino is urging the Senate committee on energy to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the continuous blackouts in Iloilo, as he called on the DOE and the NGCP to find a more sustainable solution to the energy supply in the region.